Hybrid Greentech - Energy Storage Intelligence’s Post

Is tripping of a Nuclear power plant an unlikely incident? This morning 13th of May at 07:13:29 the Swedish Nuclear power plant Forsmark Block 1 with a capacity of 1 GW tripped due to a grid failure. The power ramp started from 8:15 and will be up to full power at approximately 22:00 tonight. Block 2 might also have tripped if it wasn't already out for maintenance until the end of the week. On the 25th of November 2023 the Swedish Forsmark reactor experienced a fault, tripping block 3, with a capacity of 1.2 GW. Resulting in a similar frequency drop reaching 49.6 Hz. Earlier in 2023, on April 26th, it was the two blocks (1 and 2) of the Forsmark plant that were tripped, resulting in a total production loss of 1.0 GW and 1.1 GW, respectively. When adding the disturbances from HVDCs it is close to be every second month that we experience GW-scale faults in the Nordic grid. Hybrid Greentech - Energy Storage Intelligence was supporting the Nordic power system during this fault with our portfolio of grid connected battery systems and electric vehicles.

Interesting for the Australian discussion further two reasons … tripping is a problem for nuclear and when it happens… recovery takes a long time (documented here as 12 hours of ramping)!

Today tripping of a nuclear power plant in the GW scale happened for the third time (and third power plant) in 4 four weeks.   This morning on the 10th of June at 10:20:35, Forsmark Block 3 had a failure due to a reactor trip of 1172 MW, which made the Nordic system frequency drop to 49.61 Hz. The exact reason is still unknown and the unit is still unavailable.   -On the 3rd of June 2024 was Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) with 1600 MW, suddenly tripped, due to a turbine malfunction. The Nordic system frequency dropped to 49.58 Hz. - On the 13th of May 2024 the Swedish Nuclear power plant Forsmark Block 1 with a capacity of 1 GW tripped due to a grid failure. - On the 25th of November 2023 the Swedish Forsmark reactor experienced a fault, tripping block 3, with a capacity of 1.2 GW. Resulting in a similar frequency drop reaching 49.6 Hz. - Earlier in 2023, on April 26th, it was the two blocks (1 and 2) of the Forsmark plant that were tripped, resulting in a total production loss of 1.0 GW and 1.1 GW, respectively. Hybrid Greentech - Energy Storage Intelligence was supporting the Nordic power system during this fault with our portfolio of grid connected battery systems and electric vehicles.

I previously asked the question if tripping of a Nuclear power plant in the GW scale is an unlikely event. Today it happened for the third time (and third power plant) in 4 four weeks.   This morning on the 10th of June at 10:20:35, Forsmark Block 3 had a failure due to a reactor trip of 1172 MW, which made the Nordic system frequency drop to 49.61 Hz. The exact reason is still unknown and the unit is still unavailable.   -On the 3rd of June 2024 was Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) with 1600 MW, suddenly tripped, due to a turbine malfunction. The Nordic system frequency dropped to 49.58 Hz. - On the 13th of May 2024 the Swedish Nuclear power plant Forsmark Block 1 with a capacity of 1 GW tripped due to a grid failure. - On the 25th of November 2023 the Swedish Forsmark reactor experienced a fault, tripping block 3, with a capacity of 1.2 GW. Resulting in a similar frequency drop reaching 49.6 Hz. - Earlier in 2023, on April 26th, it was the two blocks (1 and 2) of the Forsmark plant that were tripped, resulting in a total production loss of 1.0 GW and 1.1 GW, respectively. Hybrid Greentech - Energy Storage Intelligence was supporting the Nordic power system during this fault with our portfolio of grid connected battery systems and electric vehicles.

This is an interesting story, the Palisades nuclear power plant in MI was shuttered in 2022 and is now being considered to come out of retirement if necessary licenses are approved. This would be the first successful restart of a nuclear power plant in American history! Why is this intriguing you ask? With the transition to a more renewable grid there seems to be a deviation between expected carbon neutral generation by a certain date and realized generation at that same date. PJM, the regional grid operator, isn't the only independent system operator (ISO) that is looking down the barrel at demand outpacing generation capabilities. Texas for example has seen a major influx of people and businesses over the past few years and is in a similar predicament of demand outpacing supply. This will certainly be interesting to keep tabs on. #resourceadequacy #carbonneutral #supplyvsdemand #energy #nuclearpower https://lnkd.in/eJc7yFC4

Again the Nordic Nuclear power plants are severely challenging the grid stability and integrity. This time it was not the old Forsmark reactor but the completely new Olkiluoto 3 (Europes largest power plant with a capacity of 1.6 GW) that disconnected due to an unplanned fault. This happened on November 19th 2023 at 18.11 CET. It was good that the Nordic FCR-D reserve was able to catch the frequency before a blackout occured. Those concerned about the amount of activation when delivering FCR-D with flexible consumption units will appreciate how such a large event only triggered activation of 75% of the committed capacity and only for 20 seconds Now that Olkiluoto 3 is in operation it is quite clear that the dimensioning fault of the FCR-D UP reserve should not be 1.4 GW based on the Oskarshamn reactor but instead at least 1.6 GW. Ideally it should be 2.8 GW to accomodate for the Nordlink cable changing direction again. With the increasing tendency of very large faults, we need to increase the primary reserves capacity BEFORE a blackout happens. Energinet, Svenska kraftnät, Fingrid Oyj, Statnett SF Hybrid Greentech - Energy Storage Intelligence

The delays and cost overruns have led some experts to oppose new nuclear plant construction as impractical, but the public is warming up to the energy source. Recent polls show the highest level of support for nuclear power in a decade. It currently supplies almost 50% of US carbon-free electricity, and many experts believe it’s an essential clean energy supplement to wind and solar. https://lnkd.in/gwSzgt3N

📢 Forsmark has together with the owners taken an important decision to initiate a feasibility study to investigate possible lifetime extension of Forsmark nuclear power plant. 🙌🌍🌱 #nuclearpower #fossilfree #cleanelectricity #decarbonisation

A new microreactor, eVinci, developed by Westinghouse, can function without water, paving the way for nuclear power to reach far-off locations where water might be scarce. The first such microreactor will come up in Saskatchewan by the end of this decade: https://lnkd.in/gyq9u5md #nuclearpower #nuclearenergy

'The media has become an echo chamber, with each outlet clambering over the next to crow about the great benefits of nuclear power in misleading language that suggests this technology is already entirely proven out.' This article clearly shows the neo-conservative championing of nuclear is basically total BS, SMR tech is literally decades away if it ever arrives. This means it is entirely reckless to suggest it is a viable solution to our current challenges in energy transition. To me this shows that the nuclear debate is really designed to take oxygen away from the renewable energy conversation. It smacks of a political strategy that isn't based on sound energy policy but instead is based on the pursuit of power for powers sake. History shows us that a willing media loves a contrary point of view and its likely they will continue to misrepresent nuclear as viable so it would be foolish to underestimate this as a viable political strategy. We have already lost a decade in a policy vacuum and Australia's transition cannot afford fanciful delusions to distract us. Lets talk about the one of the worst role outs of smart meters globally vs comparative economies, the pervasiveness of flat tariffs and the impending hot-water and EV tsunami if we want to get serious...